Electropathic Battery Belt, 1886. Creator: Unknown

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Electropathic Battery Belt, 1886. Creator: Unknown

Electropathic Battery Belt, 1886. From "The Graphic. An Illustrated Weekly Newspaper Volume 33. January to June, 1886"

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Media ID 36241901

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Advert Advertisement Healthcare Medical Equipment Remedy Therapeutic Therapy Electropathic Belt Electrotherapy

EDITORS COMMENTS
This intriguing image is a print from "The Graphic. An Illustrated Weekly Newspaper Volume 33. January to June, 1886," featuring an Electropathic Battery Belt, a popular therapeutic device of the 19th century. The belt, believed to have originated in Britain, is shown being used by both a man and a woman, suggesting that it was marketed towards a wide audience. The Electropathic Battery Belt was an early form of electrotherapy, a medical treatment that uses electric currents to stimulate healing and alleviate pain. The device consisted of a series of batteries connected by wires to leather straps, which were worn around the body. The engraving illustrates the simple yet effective design of the belt, with the batteries housed in a wooden case and the straps adjustable to fit different body sizes. The users are shown wearing the belt with a determined expression, indicating their faith in the device's ability to improve their health. The location of the scene is not specified, but the Victorian-era clothing and the ornate decor of the room suggest that this was a fashionable and respectable medical treatment. The Electropathic Battery Belt was just one of many quack remedies and medical innovations that proliferated during the 19th century. Despite the lack of scientific evidence supporting its effectiveness, the device gained popularity due to the belief that electricity could cure a wide range of ailments, from arthritis to hysteria. Today, the image serves as a fascinating reminder of the faith people placed in medical treatments that may now seem bizarre or even comical.

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